National Football League
Arizona 17, St. Louis 13
When: 4:15 PM ET, Sunday, September 12, 2010
Where: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
Temperature: Dome
Head Official: Alberto Riveron
Attendance: 52440

Derek Anderson hit Larry Fitzgerald for a go-ahead 21-yard touchdown pass with 6:13 left in the fourth quarter and the Arizona Cardinals spoiled Sam Bradford’s NFL debut with a 17-13 victory over St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

The two-time defending NFC West champion Cardinals struggled most of the day with the Rams, who have lost 15 straight division games and eight straight overall to Arizona (1-0).

The top overall pick, Bradford drove the Rams to the Cardinals’ 21-yard line late in the fourth quarter, but he was intercepted on fourth down by Kerry Rhodes.

The Rams (0-1) had one last chance after Tim Hightower fumbled at St. Louis' 29-yard line, but poor clock management doomed them and Bradford’s Hail Mary was intercepted as time expired.

Still, the Rams had to be encouraged by Bradford’s play. The former Heisman Trophy winner was 32 of 55 for 253 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.

Meanwhile, Anderson and Fitzgerald were out of sync for most of the day. Fitzgerald, who missed time in the preseason with a knee injury, had three catches for 43 yards and the score.

Anderson, who beat out Matt Leinart for the starting job after Kurt Warner retired in the offseason, was 22-of-41 for 297 yards and a touchdown.

His touchdown to Fitzgerald helped the Cardinals overcome three turnovers.

Top Game Performances
Rushing
Arizona   St. Louis
Timothy Hightower Player Steven Jackson
13 Attempts 22
54 Yards 81
4.2 Avg Yards 3.7
1 Touchdowns 0
20 Long 18
Receiving
Arizona   St. Louis
Steve Breaston Player Mark Clayton
7 Receptions 10
132 Yards 119
18.9 Avg Yards 11.9
0 Touchdowns 0
35 Long 39
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sacks FF
Arizona 378 112 266 2 1 3 2.0 2
St. Louis 325 85 240 1 2 0 2.0 5